Barkhorn1x
07-27-2004, 16:39
What’s wrong with this picture?
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/screens.html?page=66
I’ll tell you – a line of Princepes or Hastati advance on a group of well-ordered militia hoplites swords at the ready. So what happened to their pila?? And, if they launched them already, how come the hoplite formation is so well ordered?
In ALL of the vid clips, TV shows and screenshots that I’ve seen (and I think I’ve seen ‘em all), I have never seen a devastating pila volley, not even once.
Just how effective are these Romans going to be with mere swords against an un-molested phalanx?? I really, hope that this issue has been addressed
See the quote below from Caesar’s Gallic Wars to see how this tactic was used.
Quote[/b] ] [1.25]Caesar, having removed out of sight first his own horse, then those of
all, that he might make the danger of a11 equal, and do away with the hope of
flight, after encouraging his men, joined battle. His soldiers hurling their
javelins from the higher ground, easily broke the enemy's phalanx. That being
dispersed, they made a charge on them with drawn swords. It was a great
hinderance to the Gauls in fighting, that, when several of their bucklers had
been by one stroke of the (Roman) javelins pierced through and pinned fast
together, as the point of the iron had bent itself, they could neither pluck it
out, nor, with their left hand entangled, fight with sufficient ease; so that
many, after having long tossed their arm about, chose rather to cast away the
buckler from their hand, and to fight with their person unprotected.
Barkhorn.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/screens.html?page=66
I’ll tell you – a line of Princepes or Hastati advance on a group of well-ordered militia hoplites swords at the ready. So what happened to their pila?? And, if they launched them already, how come the hoplite formation is so well ordered?
In ALL of the vid clips, TV shows and screenshots that I’ve seen (and I think I’ve seen ‘em all), I have never seen a devastating pila volley, not even once.
Just how effective are these Romans going to be with mere swords against an un-molested phalanx?? I really, hope that this issue has been addressed
See the quote below from Caesar’s Gallic Wars to see how this tactic was used.
Quote[/b] ] [1.25]Caesar, having removed out of sight first his own horse, then those of
all, that he might make the danger of a11 equal, and do away with the hope of
flight, after encouraging his men, joined battle. His soldiers hurling their
javelins from the higher ground, easily broke the enemy's phalanx. That being
dispersed, they made a charge on them with drawn swords. It was a great
hinderance to the Gauls in fighting, that, when several of their bucklers had
been by one stroke of the (Roman) javelins pierced through and pinned fast
together, as the point of the iron had bent itself, they could neither pluck it
out, nor, with their left hand entangled, fight with sufficient ease; so that
many, after having long tossed their arm about, chose rather to cast away the
buckler from their hand, and to fight with their person unprotected.
Barkhorn.